Watford Community Housing has appointed Mulalley and Co to develop the Meriden estate in Watford

Published: Tuesday, 16th January 2018

Watford Community Housing has appointed Mulalley and Co as the contractor for the delivery of an ambitious regeneration project, which will see much-needed new homes, important community facilities and green spaces developed for the Meriden estate in Watford.

The project will deliver 131 homes for affordable or social rent, a 50-bed extra-care facility for older people and homes for shared ownership. The project will also provide a new parade of shops, an expanded community hub and newly-landscaped green spaces.

The recent contract exchange is the next big step in the development which will provide more homes for people in the local area and bring a new lease of life to the Meriden.

As well as providing homes, this regeneration will bring a wide range of other benefits to the local community. By creating new focal points for the estate, the project will create a modern, metropolitan feel on the Meriden, which will help to improve the community for residents and ensure the area is fit for the future.

Resident groups and councillors have been involved throughout the in-depth consultation process, and the valuable opinions of those who know the area best will continue to be heard once works start, through a variety of public meetings, ‘meet and greet’ sessions and ongoing discussions with Mulalley.

Split into two phases, the works will cover the central area of the Meriden. Phase one, predicted to conclude in spring 2020, will see the development of the retail block and the first of the new residences, including both bungalows and houses. Phase two focuses on the extra care facility, including a large hairdressing salon which will serve the whole community.

Elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: ‘This is good news for the town. With the government making it more and more difficult for councils to secure affordable homes, I am proud that we can still assist schemes like this being delivered in Watford. I’m delighted to be working with Watford Community Housing to get these homes off the ground. I know this was a controversial project and there will be some who are unhappy about it but it’s these sorts of things that make sure that Watford is a town for everyone."

Speaking about the development, Gareth Lewis, Group Director of Partnerships for Watford Community Housing, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with Mulalley on our project to revitalise the Meriden. This partnership will provide a significant number of much-needed new homes to families in Watford, as well as regenerating one of our core community areas. This is our most ambitious development to date and we believe it will bring wide-ranging benefits to the area, including significant improvements for existing residents.”

John Moore, Operations Director for Mulalley, said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed as the constructor by Watford Community Housing to help improve and enhance the local area for the residents of the Meriden. We are looking forward to working closely with the local residents and Watford Community Housing to deliver this ambitious estate regeneration project.”